Get Your Child on TV This Fall
Summer may be in full swing, but the fall TV season is right around the corner, with many broadcast and streaming shows preparing to shoot their new seasons. Here's what you need to know to sign your minor up for the first time or to make sure your registered minor is eligible to work with Central Casting.
What does Central Casting do?
Central Casting books Background Actors, Stand-Ins, and doubles in TV shows, movies, and other productions. We also book babies (who must be at least 15 days old), children, and teenagers (up to 17 years old) to work on our shows.
Background Actors perform in non-speaking roles, usually in the background of scenes. They're campers in Bunk'd, roller skaters in Will Trent, soccer players in Law & Order, and an endless variety of other roles.
We also book children as doubles. There are strict laws for how long minors can work; productions often use minor doubles to take the place of the child actor when their face does not appear on screen. This allows the production to continue filming when the principal child actor is not available.
Onboard your minor with Central Casting
Ready to get your child on set? The first step is to create your minor's online profile by filling out the online application, uploading photos, and e-signing forms. Uploading a current headshot and full body shot is a big part of the onboarding process. Our Casting Directors use these photos when casting their shows, so it's important that the pictures you upload fit within Central Casting's photo guidelines. After submitting your minor's photos, a member of our Talent Onboarding staff will review them before you can proceed to the next step.
When your minor's photos are approved, you will receive instructions on how to fill out your minor's Form I-9 and complete their onboarding. To learn more and to begin the onboarding process, visit our Kids Sign Up page.
Required documentation
To onboard with Central Casting, your minor must have the required Form I-9 documentation . This is a crucial step in the onboarding process; we cannot onboard your minor without these documents.
Per federal law, minors are required to either present one original unexpired List A document or an original unexpired List B and List C document combination. If presenting a List B document to an employer that participates in E-Verify (Central Casting), the employer can only see/use a List B document that includes a non-detachable photo of the minor.
Minor work permit
While children do not need a work permit to onboard with Central Casting, they will need a valid permit from your state in order to work on our productions. If your minor doesn't have a work permit or if their work permit is expired, now is a great to time to obtain or update them to ensure your minor is eligible to work as the fall TV season begins.
Permits are handled differently in each state, read through our article Ensure Your Minor is Eligible to Be Booked by Central Casting to learn more about the process in your location.
How to find your child work
If a Casting Director determines your minor fits the requirements for a role, they may reach out with an availability inquiry that will appear in your minor's online profile, be emailed to the address on file, and be sent as a text message. You can also check our Jobs page for roles your minor can portray, then submit according to the Casting Director's instructions.
To learn more about how to get your child on TV, read through our guides What to Know About Responding to Casting Messages and Getting Your Minor Prepped for Set.
